Head Start receives hats, gloves

The citizens of Butler County helped to ensure the warmth of several children this holiday season with their annual community hat and glove drive.

Head Start programs in Augusta, El Dorado and Bluestem presented new hats and gloves to their students Monday after receiving the donations from several communities in the county.

“In El Dorado, donations boxes were placed in several area businesses to collect the donations,” said Crisanne Thompson, Early Childhood senior manager. “Each child in every classroom received a set of gloves and hat. We currently have 50 children enrolled in the program now and we are always taking applications for more.”

The drive doesn’t just benefit the kids – it gives the communities an opportunity to participate in the Head Start program itself.

“This drive gives the community an opportunity to help a child in need,” said Thompson. “It also gives the community an opportunity to become familiar with the Head Start program and see its presence in the community.”

Head Start provides a structured, positive, educational environment to low-income and at-risk families in Augusta, El Dorado and Leon.

“We strive to provide a high-quality education to the low-income families in our communities,” said Thompson. “We want the community to see that these families are well taken care of.”

The Head Start program relies largely on volunteers from the community to help in the classrooms and parent participation is always encouraged. To find out more information on the Head Start program or to volunteer, call 316-321-1959 (El Dorado) or 316-775-6666 (Augusta).